Blogs from Norwegian Sea, Arctic, Oceans and Seas

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Oceans and Seas » Arctic » Norwegian Sea August 15th 2023

To celebrate our 25th Anniversary we signed up for a Celebrity cruise from Cape Liberty NY with stops in Halifax, St. John’s, Greenland then 3 stops in Iceland. We tacked on 3 extra days in Reykjavik to get in some extra sightseeing. Here are a few sample pics.... read more
Celebrity Summit
The Lady
Peggy’s Cove

Oceans and Seas » Arctic » Norwegian Sea June 21st 2023

Today is the Summer Solstice - when the daylight is the longest in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also a day of cruising as we sail south through the Norwegian Sea. It was a bright clear day all day, with smooth seas and the temperature up to 61. The pool deck was pretty crowded this afternoon with people out enjoying the sun and comparatively warm temperatures. Anyway, we sailed out of the Arctic Circle last night and we continue to head toward an area where we will get a few hours of darkness at night. Today is also the day that our Grandson Alex is leaving on his trip to Europe. We expect him to have lots of interesting experiences and see plenty of impressive sights. It will help him to understand more about other parts ... read more

Oceans and Seas » Arctic » Norwegian Sea June 19th 2023

Hello from the Island Princess, cruising on the Norwegian Sea. This was a sea day as we head back south toward our next port in Gravdal on Lofoten Island tomorrow. In the meantime, today has been a day of rest. Before we cover today's activities, let's add a couple of facts overlooked in yesterday's report. First - the photos from Tromso have been posted to that blog. You should be able to see them if you go back there. Second - the photos from Honningsvag have been posted also. Take a look if you want. Now a question - where did the King Crab come from that are now so enjoyable in Northern Norway? Back in the 1930's, Russia tried to bring these crabs from their east coast to the west, to develop a new fishing ... read more

Oceans and Seas » Arctic » Norwegian Sea August 8th 2011

Today is the start of two glorious sea days as we head south to Alesund, Norway. The Svalbard Islands have disappeared. Watching them as we sailed past was like looking at the Rockies, if the Rockies were on a shore; craggy, steep, snow covered peaks. Went to the coffee talk. The cruise director interviewed the dining room manager, the cellar master and the executive chef. They were all charming and informative and gave interesting insights into provisioning, cooking and serving wines at sea. Then it was Team Trivia time and WE WON!!!!!!! I have also received my Proclamation from King Aegir certifying that I have crossed the Arctic Circle and I am a member of the Ancient Order of the Blue Nose. Enjoyed dinner as always. I am so lucky to get a great table. There ... read more

Oceans and Seas » Arctic » Norwegian Sea August 6th 2011

Scenic Cruising This morning we slowly cruised into Magdalene Fiord located on the northernmost northwestern shore of Spitsbergen, the northernmost island of the Svalbard archipelago. The latitude here is about 79 degrees. The fiord is relatively small about five miles deep and three miles wide at it widest point. The mountains are stark and steep. The only vegetation is moss but the moss is a carpet of greens, reds and oranges. It’s really colorful. At one time there was a whaling station here but that was long ago and it was surprising to see a two-tent research facility on the shore with a small-beached zodiac. There was a sailboat moored in a little cove. At the terminus is the Lillichook Glacier. That is the only glacier still reaching the water. Others have retreated up the mountain. ... read more

Oceans and Seas » Arctic » Norwegian Sea August 4th 2011

AT LAST WIFI IS BACK. HELLO ALL! Another lovely sleep in, today until 7:30. It is still grey out there but the seas have calmed. Found myself a $10 watch to replace the one I lost. At lunch today I met two ladies who live in Nairobi, actually the outskirts of Nairobi because no one lives right in the city. A mother and daughter originally from San Francisco, who moved to Kenya in the mid seventies, came back to the states and then returned to Kenya where they plan to end their days. They are very interesting women and deeply love their African home. They have visited 43 of the 54 African countries. Went up in the Crow’s Nest to read and watch the arctic terns circle the bow of the ship and then went back ... read more

Oceans and Seas » Arctic » Norwegian Sea August 4th 2011

The Arctic I enjoyed a drink before dinner with four Aussie ladies, Angela, Carol, Lynn and Laurie. I bought drinks for Angela and Carol since Angela was so helpful in getting my luggage off the Tilbury train. They are all friends from Sydney and when they got going I had no idea what they were saying. I really enjoy the Aussie sense of humor. Dinner was Parmesan crusted chicken, which would have been grand if not for the mustard sauce. I also enjoyed escargot, a special request from the evening before, and my cinnamon ice cream. Just after dinner we diverted to a small town in northern Iceland to tender a passenger ashore for medical attention. The village was at the termination of a small fiord and the Crow’s Nest was packed. The time was ... read more




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